Chapter 2

Edmond and George hired a cab that would take them to their destinations and bring them back. They visited the National Museum of Kenya, the National Park and the Nairobi Safari Walk which was their favourite because they got to see different animals they had never seen in real life. They took pictures of course, then stopped at a restaurant for a late lunch.

"If I was a content creator, I would have made a Vlog; Explore the city of Nairobi with me," George joked as they ate.

"I should have recorded a tiktok video with those giraffes, maybe I would have gone viral," Edmond added and they laughed.

Edmond wished for them to continue the mini tour but George reminded him that they had to return back to the hotel before it got late. Thus, they agreed to visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the Nairobi Planetarium and the Naivasha Lake the next time they would venture out to explore the city.

When Edmond got to his room, he freshened up and picked up his phone to send the pictures he had taken to Alfred who called him right back. They had been keeping in touch regularly since Edmond travelled.

"I see you've made a new friend over there," Alfred teased.

"Of course, his name is George."

"Interesting. What is he like?"

"He's cool, friendly, and very intelligent. He's a mathematician and a physicist."

"Lucky you to have met such a person during this training, he could be very helpful, you know. Just make sure you don't replace me with him else I'll stop playing golf with you."

"I could never replace you, man."

"Good for you."

Edmond chuckled and narrated his day to Alfred who was intrigued and asked questions about the country which Edmond answered to the best of his knowledge. He also told him about the two other friends he made through George; Joseph and Laura. Before ending the call, Edmond promised to get souvenirs for Alfred when he was returning to South Africa.

He sent the pictures to his wife but she didn't react so he figured she was asleep. However, she called him few minutes later acknowledging the pictures. They switched to videocall so they could see each other's faces for the first time in days and talked for over an hour until Edmond suggested she went to bed so she could wake up early for work.

Training went on well for all the trainees as they learnt about new technology, explored new places and cultures, and got to network with people from different countries across the continent. It was an experience they were grateful for and won't be quick to forget.

Edmond was having lunch with George, Joseph and Laura when his mother called, wanting to speak to him about something urgent. His wife, Juliana, had won a visa lottery and migrated to the US with her ex whom she posed as her husband. Edmond couldn't believe his ears and decided to hear from Juliana herself so he called her and she didn't pick all ten of his calls.

He stormed out of the café ignoring the others calling him but when he was about to enter the cab he stopped, George held his arm, preventing him from doing so.

"Is everything alright?"

"Thank you for your concern, but what I really want to do right now is to get the hell out of here."

George nodded and let go of his arm. By the time Joseph and Laura came outside, the cab had sped off. They asked George what was wrong with Edmond but he didn't have an answer for them.

Edmond waited all day for Juliana to return his calls but she didn't, she wasn't even replying his texts or his messages on Snapchat. He was worried and angry. How could she do this to him when their marriage was still very young?

A knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts and he dragged his feet to the door, opening it to reveal George holding up a small plastic bag. He brought freshly baked pastries and fresh juice. Edmond admitted that he was hungry and appreciated him for the kind thought.

"My wife left me for her ex," Edmond blurted. George was confounded.

"What do you mean?"

Edmond deadpanned, "I mean that my wife left me for her ex."

"How do you mean? What happened?"

Edmond took a big bite of a croissant so he wouldn't have to speak but George stared pointedly at him and waited for him to finish chewing.

"Well?"

"She won a visa lottery and moved to the States with her ex, who she probably posed as her husband so she could be eligible for the lottery because it was strictly for couples."

"When did this happen?"

"Yesterday."

"I don't get this, why would she use her ex as her husband when she is already married?"

Edmond took a swig of his juice. "Beats me. And the worst part is that she isn't picking or returning my calls or even replying to my messages. I just don't know what to think."

"Honestly, I still don't understand this matter. What kind of a woman did you get married to?"

Edmond glared at him but softened his gaze when he said, "I'm also starting to wonder the same thing."

George did his best to console him and encourage him to continue reaching out to his wife before leaving. Edmond ate the rest of his dinner in silence, praying and hoping that what his mother told him about Juliana wasn't true and was just a mere misunderstanding.

Days had passed and Juliana still hadn't returned Edmond's calls or replied any of his messages and this only proved to him that she had truly left him. She didn't even tell him about her application for the lottery or the fact that she was leaving. This meant that she had planned to leave him long ago. Why then did she get married to him?

Edmond never imagined that he would experience a failed or broken marriage. This had to be one of the shortest marriages he had ever known. Before and during their wedding, they made vows to be with one another until death but it seems she had other plans for her future and it didn't involve him. This was heartbreaking to say the least.

George nudged him, pulling him out of his reverie. "Get yourself together, man, your presentation is next."

Edmond sat up quickly and collected his thoughts before he was called up for his presentation. George smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up as he mounted the podium and set up his laptop. He wasn't in the right frame of mind, but because he had diligently prepared for it, he was able to deliver excellently, earning a standing ovation from everyone.

As they walked back to their bus, George caught up with Edmond and asked if he had heard from his wife since then. He replied in the negative. He suggested they went out to chill later in the evening so he could get his mind off his wife for a while. Edmond was all in because he needed the distraction.